#52Ancestors, published Letter from Dr. Louis DeBarth Kuhn, 1856

Another post in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. I am behind, but every post is another post! Today I am sharing a letter from my great-grandfather (on my mother's paternal line), Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN. It was published in The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania, Monday Jun 9, 1856, and is stated to be - not the entire letter - but extracts from a personal letter shared with the publisher. See newspaper banner, here. 

At this time in 1856, Dr. KUHN had already graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in Medicine and separately in Pharmacy, by 1852. He travelled at some point after his graduation to Washington Territories, settling in Port Townsend [Fort Townsend]. On January 17, 1864, he married the eldest daughter of one of the four earliest settlers of Port Townsend, Amelia "Millie" PETTYGROVE, her father Francis W. PETTYGROVE.  

The letter follows: 

     LETTER FROM THE NORTH WEST.

We have been politely favored with the perusal of an interesting letter from Dr. KUHN, of the Navy, (a native of our County [Adams]), dated on board the U.S. Revenue Cutter “Jefferson Davis,” Seattle, Puget Sound, Washington Territory, April 3d, from which we cull the following extracts:

    Here I am, safe and well, thank God, at the “seat of war,” after a pleasant voyage of a dozen days from “Merry San Francisco,” whence we sailed on the evening of the 8th of March.

        The scenery along the Sound is wild and beautiful in the extreme; the dense forests of Fir and Pine extend from the water’s edge, as far as the eye can reach, until the snow-covered mountains of the “Coast Range” look decidedly pleasant and cool in the distance.

        My first visit ashore was at Clallam Bay, where the sub-chief, “Captain Jack,” came off to tell us that his “Mamma and Papa,” as well as a number of his tribe were sick, and to ask the “Boston Doctor” to come to see them, and to give them some “medicine,” that they might get well.  I went along with him on sight, with a great deal of pleasure, and we were met on the beach by such a lot of squaws and papooses as I never saw together.

         The old chief led the way with quiet dignity to his own “wigwam,” where his wife and parents were, and afterwards to all the others; they had a number of sick, though none very seriously so, and they brought them out in the greatest confidence that the “Medicine Man” would cure them all; I wish to Heaven I could.  They live in large wooden lodges, as comfortable as they know how, and as nearly in a perfect state of nature as possible; they are very kind to each other, especially to their parents, and live upon game, fish, clams and wapatoes --(potatoes) and very good they are too.

        They are a fine looking race of men, of a light tan colour, and dark hair and eyes; the young women are handsome enough, but the old ones are anything else in the world; they do all the work and look tired and care-worn as possible. 

        I did not forget to bring my pipe and tobacco with me, and after my duties were over we had “a great smoke.”  I cannot tell you what a pleasant and interesting time it was to me, and how perfectly at home I felt in that “wigwam”; they are all “flatheads,” and I saw one little fellow about half a dozen moons old, with his head as flat as a flounder; after playing with it for a while, I asked her (the mother) if she would give it to me? but she folded her arms convulsively around it and looked as though she “could not” and would not for all the world.  “Nature is true to herself,” and she was a mother, though she was an Indian.  I would have remained longer, though it was as dark as pitch and raining like all out of doors, but it was time to go on board; they gave me some arrows, pointed with shell, that they use for shooting ducks, and with many shakes of the band, I bade good-bye to my new Indian friends.

        We passed along within sight of the British Possessions of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and anchored at Port Townsend on the 22nd. 

        This consists of about 20 wooden houses and a blockhouse, built upon the beach, and a steep bank 80 feet high, behind it -- the level of the Forest and Prairie, as far as the eye can reach, and is rather a pretty place.  There are a number of Indians here under their Head Chief, the “Duke of York,” by far the most noble specimen of his race that I have seen yet; I paid him a visit at his “wigwam,” and we soon became friends for a lifetime at least.

        The soil is good, and I went around looking at everything, and it was as pretty a sight as I ever witnessed, for it is early spring, and all nature was putting on her holiday clothes and trying to look her prettiest. 

        As I was going along, wondering why I came to such a “wooden country,” I met a man with his arm in a sling, who told me that in firing off a cannon board of a vessel, about six weeks ago, it exploded, breaking his arm, and mangling his hand, while a piece of it took off the top of his scalp, and then cut its way half through the foremast -- close shaving that.

        I asked him what had been done for his arm, and he said “Nothing.” -- I then asked to look at it, saying, “that’s my trade,: and found him about to have a useless and crippled limb for life, as I told him.  He begged me to attend to it, and I went to work, got some splint and bandages, &c.  Next morning (Easter) I went ashore, taking the Carpenter and my German friend Shrotter, to assist me.  I knew it would be very painful, and put him under the influence of chloroform; but when I began, Shrotter cleared out, swearing that he could not “stand it.”

        It was all over very soon, and I put the bones to right while he was dreaming of fighting the Indians over again, and applied the bandages.  When he awoke he cried like a child, poor fellow! and I felt very sorry for him; and his young Indian wife sat by, looking very sorrowful in her quiet grief. -- He is an intelligent, fine-looking fellow, and has lived here four or five years.  When he was more cheerful, I left him to go on board to breakfast, as the Cutter was ready to sail for this place, where we anchored on the night of the 24^th.

        All the news here is about the Indian hostilities.  This town was attacked by the Indians some time ago; and, after going over the battle ground a few days ago, the wonder to me is, that they did not take the place, for they were concealed and sheltered by the timber, within gun-shot of the town, and only dislodged by the shot and shells thrown among them by the “Decatur,” after a fierce battle during an entire day.  They fight fiercely and cunningly, and are not much afraid of the “Bostons,” as they call all the Americans.

        There are a number of friendly Indians, under the care of Agents, and their Chiefs, who are fed and clothed by the government, and kept out of harm’s way upon the “Reservations,” not engaged in the war.

        This is a town containing about fifty or sixty houses, situated upon the Sound, and surrounded by the forest.  Lately this has been cut down for some distance, and a breast-work thrown around the place; and with several ships of war at anchor, ready for action at a moment’s warning, I think the Town of “Seattle” is safe.

        I think I never lived better: this is the greatest place for fish of all kinds that I have ever seen.  At one sweep of the seine, our men caught over 200 codfish.  You know I was never very fond of fish-women or fish; but a fresh salmon, or codfish, smoking before a man, ten minutes after he was swimming alongside, is sufficient to make a hungry man forget his prejudices, and forgive all his enemies.

        There are two steamers and one sloop of war here, and the officers, among whom are four surgeons, are fine fellows, and our time is spent as pleasantly as possible.

        Whilst I am writing there are twenty-five large canoes full of Indians coming across the Sound.  I think they are friendly Indians, for they are coming straight-forward, in confidence; and, if otherwise, they had better not come -- that’s all.

        On Sunday, a poor Indian scout shot himself in the arm, accidentally.  He refused to have it amputated; and is gone to the hunting-grounds of his fathers.  Poor fellow! he was brave and patient, and died without a groan.” 
                                    = / = / = / = / = / = / = / = / = / 

This ends one of the few personal writings I have seen to date of my great-grandfather, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN. The other is his will, which he wrote in October 1889. Other writing covered part of his first letter...Louis DeB. Kuhn.

                                    === / === / === / === / === / === / === 

If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day!!

#52Ancestors: Jane Rebecca McCABE, 1803-1883

Another in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. I am a little behind, but every post is another post! This week I am writing about Jane Rebecca McCABE, my 2nd great-grandmother on my mother's KUHN line, 3rd great-grandmother to my children, 4th to my grandchildren. 

Jane,  born Oct 25, 1803 in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, was the youngest of the three children of Edward McCABE from County Monaghan & Rebecca HUDSON.

Jane married Joseph Jacobus KUHN (1803-1878) on Nov 5, 1826 in the Conewago Chapel, Conewago, Adams, Pennsylvania. The service was presided over by the Reverend DeBarth. There is a lovely image of the KUHN obelisk in the Conewago Chapel cemetery, listing many of the Kuhn ancestors, siblings, their marriages, etc.

Children of Joseph & Jane, all born in East Berlin, Adams, PA: 

   1.  Edward John, b. 23 Sep 1827, d. 25 Feb 1906 Hanover PA; m. abt 1856
          in Missouri 1st Annie P. Gill [d.1862], 3 children; m. 2nd Sarah Jane
          Hilt, abt 1870 in PA, 6 children
   2.  Dr. Louis/Lewis DeBarth, Ancestor, b. 22 Oct 1829, d. 7 May 1908
            NY; m. 17 Jan 1864 to Amelia A PETTYGROVE [d. 1888], 10
            children
   3.  Sarah Jane, b. 25 Dec 1831, d. 29 Apr 1834. 
   4.  Maria Rebecca, b. 2 Feb 1834, d. 8 Nov 1857 in Cuba on honeymoon;
            m. 1857 to Charles F. Leisen.
   5.  Charles Edmund, b. 16 Nov 1836, d. 23 Nov 1909 in Denver CO;
            m. 1862 to Jennie M. Myers; 1 daughter
   6.  Jane Elizabeth, b. 5 Feb 1839, d. 8 Jun 1916; m. abt 1865 to Philip
            Reilly, 5 children
   7.  Joseph Augustine, b. 1 Sep 1841, d. 4 Oct 1918 Port Townsend WA
   8.  John Randolph, b. 28 Aug 1844, d. 2 Nov 1926; m. 13 Feb 1870
             Brooklyn NY to Henrietta M. Rabitte; 13 children
   9.  Dr. George Richard Montgomery, b. 2 Sep 1847, d. 5 Nov 1915
             Brooklyn NY; m. 13 Nov 1879 to Mary E. Hussey; 5 children

Unfortunately there is nothing further I have found about Jane Rebecca, aside from her having borne 9 children in 20 years. I have newspapers to search soon, hoping for any obituary write up on her. Her husband, Joseph J KUHN, died 18 Sep 1878, aged 74, in McSherrytown, Adams, PA. Five years later, she died 15 June 1883 in Brooklyn NY, aged 79 years.

She is listed on the very large KUHN obelisk with her husband, showing her maiden name - a treasure when I found this image.  

=== / === / === / === / === / === / === 

If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day!!

Weekly #52Ancestors post: Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN, 1829-1908

I am participating in the year-long #52Ancestors weekly challenge from genealogist Amy J. Crow, and here is this week's offering: my mother's grandfather, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN. 

Louis Kuhn's middle name, DeBarth, was chosen from a highly respected Roman Catholic priest in the early days of the Conewago Chapel, PA. A quote from Preachers, Reverends and Ministers of Lancaster co. Pennsylvania (1821-1830) says, "Father DeBarth was no Jesuit, but lived among them for many years." 

The immigrant Catholic KUHN family arrived from Wurttemburg [now Germany], settling in Pennsylvania in approximately 1735-40, my 4th great-grandparents Johan KUHN & Anna Barbara ADAMS, with their 4 children:
   1.  Heinrich [Henry],
   2.  Johan [John] George [ancestor], 
   3.  Eva Mary, and
   4 . Jost [Joseph].
All four married within a few years of arrival in Pennsylvania, settling first in Goshenhoppen, then around Macungie, Salisbury, and Conewago. Our line follows the 2nd son, John George  KUHN and his wife, Catherine RIFFEL.

Louis' parents were Joseph Jacobus KUHN & Jane Rebecca McCABE, who married Nov 5, 1826 in Conewago, PA. Louis, born October 22, 1829 and baptised November 8th in East Berlin, Adams, PA, was the 2nd of their 9 children, the 2nd of 6 boys. Note that on some censuses his first name is spelled Lewis, clearly the way it was pronounced. Here is his [Latinized] baptism record, Conewago PA:

For his medical degree, first Louis received his Pharmacy degree in 1851, as listed in the book, First Century of the Philadelphia, pg 465:

He then received his Medical degree 1854, and is found listed in the Matriculants of the University of Pennsylvania, Medical Class, Session 1851-52, p.20.

He entered the Marine Service of the United States and in 1854 sailed around Cape Horn to California, ending in Port Townsend, Washington. Interestingly he worked with the expedition which located the boundary line with British Columbia. He became well acquainted with a number of the army officers on board, including Ulysses S. Grant. In 1856, he wrote a letter [unknown receiver] published in the Monday June 6, 1856 edition of The Republican Compiler, which extracted a number of paragraphs, totalling over a column and a third. He detailed the scenery, his interactions with the native Indians, and the small towns in the area. Remember that Port Townsend was officially settled only in 1851 - these are early days!  

Dr. Louis KUHN is seen in the 1860 Census in Port Townsend, single, aged 30, M.D., with real estate of $3000, and personal estate value of $4000. 

His future wife, Amelia PETTYGROVE, is a few blocks away, aged 16, living with her family and attending school.  

Dr. Louis KUHN & Amelia "Millie" PETTYGROVE were married January 17, 1864, in Port Townsend, Jefferson, Washington Territory.  Amelia was born in 1844 in the Oregon Territory, one of the very first settlers' babies. The Oregon Territory was split into two territories, with the southern part becoming the state of Oregon in 1859.

Louis & Amelia had the following ten children, the first two born in Port Townsend, the youngest born in Brooklyn NY, the remaining were born in Reading, Berks, PA, near where his parents and several siblings lived.

   1. Dr. Joseph Francis, b.1864 WA, died at father's home 12 Sep 1898, 

            Brooklyn NY

   2. Louis B., b.1866 WA; apparently died before 1880, Reading PA.

The family moved to Pennsylvania in approximately 1867

   3. Mary Jane "Jennie", b. Sept 1868, PA, d. apparently bef 1908, Brooklyn NY

   4. Ellenora "Nellie", b. Nov 1874 PA, d. Apr 1941, Dunton L.I., NY; m. 1897 

            to Dr. Robert Fitzherbert Joseph Hussey, 4 children

   5. Charles Edward [ancestor], b.10 Jun 1876 PA, d.16 Dec 1945 

            Seattle WA; m. 11 Jun 1910 Roselle NJ to Marguerite Josephine 

            "Daisy" TERWILLIGER; 7 children

   6. Letitia Cecelia, b.10 Sep 1878 PA, d. after Jun 1880 PA

   7. George Wilfred, b.1 Nov 1880 PA, d. 24 Mar 1961 Brooklyn NY; m. after 

             1918 to Marguerite Bergen, no children

   8. Edward McCabe, b.1882 PA, d. 9 Oct 1889 Brooklyn NY

   9. Jane A., b. bef 1885 PA, d. 2 Jul 1939 Brooklyn NY

The family moved to Brooklyn NY in 1885, where their last child was born:

 10. Marguerite Louise, b. Feb 1886 Brooklyn NY, d. 25 Mar 1964 Brooklyn NY

He established a medical practice in Brooklyn after they moved to New York. He was a staff member of St Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn, a Roman Catholic hospital. This hospital was owned by St. Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York; it closed recently in 2005.

Louis' wife, Amelia, died January 18, 1888. In the early 1900s, he began selling off some of his properties in the Port Townsend WA area, asking his younger brother, Joseph A. Kuhn, a lawyer there to assist him.

He wrote out his will the year after Amelia died, on October 8, 1889, in Brooklyn, NY. In the 1900 Census, he was living at 471 Willoughby Ave in Brooklyn, [owned home], widowed,with his daughter, Jennie, aged 31, single, George, aged 19, single, and Marguerite, aged 14, at school.  Note, in 1910 Census, Jenny is listed as the 'Head' of the family, with George, Marguerite, and Charles, together, still living at 471 Willoughby Ave in Brooklyn. See building from Google Maps, above right. 

Louis DeBarth KUHN died May 7th, 1908, at his home, 471 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn NY. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn NY. His will from 1889 is very simple, leaving any property to be leased/sold and the value to be shared equally between his living family. The first half of his will is above on the right. And on the next page, his signature, made with a different pen, below:

His younger brother, John Randolph Kuhn, a lawyer, was the Executor of his Will. He stated that Louis' real estate in New York did not exceed the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, and his real estate in the State of Washington, valued also below the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars. 

All his heirs, his adult children, living at the time, were Jennie, Charles, Nellie, George, and Marguerite. His Will was admitted to Probate August 19, 1908. The original will/probate documents have been copied; photocopies are in my files.

I plan to transcribe the newspaper article which is taken from a letter he wrote, and also to transcribe his will, and put those in a separate tab of this blog [see tabs above]. Look for those in a few weeks.

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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 40, October birthdays: NINE Direct Ancestors

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Unusual, and this week is "OCTOBER birthdays/anniversaries".  Counting them all, I have NINE direct ancestors with birth dates in October, including a married couple. They are listed with birthplace, spouse and marriage date, plus number of known children.

1 Oct 1665:  Judith STEVENS, b. Windsor CT, m. Samuel BUEL(L) 1686; 11 children

2 Oct 1687:  Abigail RICH, b. Wenham MA, m. Timothy JEROME 1709; 7 children including my favourite-named son, Zerubbabel.

4 Oct 1770:  Jane [Jennetje] KOEN, b. New Scotland NY, m. Simon TERWILLIGER 1788; 4 children

4 Oct 1803:  Joseph Jacobus KUHN, b. Conewago PA, m. Jane Rebecca McCABE 1826; 9 children

5 Oct 1924:  Mary Marguerite KUHN [my mother!], b. Vancouver BC, m. John GILLESPIE 1941; 3 children

12 Oct 1812:  Francis William [F.W.] PETTYGROVE, b. Calais ME, m. Sophia RULAND 1842; 7 children

22 Oct 1829:  Louis DeBarth KUHN, b. East Berlin PA, m. Amelia PETTYGROVE 1864; 10 children; Amelia is the eldest daughter of FW PETTYGROVE above.

25 Oct 1803:  Jane Rebecca McCABE, b. Downington PA, m. Joseph Jacobus KUHN 1826; 9 children

28 Oct 1716:  Jannetje van VALKENBURGH, b. Schenectady NY, m. Simeon LARROWAY [LeRoy] 1733;  4 children

 Are any of these people your ancestors as well?  If you have any information or details to share, or to correct the details above, I would be very happy to hear from you.  Contact me via email below [bottom of page], or in the Comments section.

The photo up above is in Vancouver BC Canada, facing north - you can see the darker blue tone of the mountains across the harbour. Taken in Falaise Park south of the Grandview Highway by my brother Jake, this is the neighbourhood we grew up in. The Park wasn't quite so tidy and organized back then, with a boggy bottom and a ravine to play in.  

Lately, my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments, most of the time. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

GRANDPOP KUHN - Charles Edward KUHN

My grandfather Kuhn died when I was just a toddler, and I have no memories of him. However, like his wife, my grandmother, he was a larger-than-life person.

Charles Edward KUHN was born 10 Jun 1876 in Reading, Berks, PA, the fifth child and 3rd son of Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN & Amelia "Millie" Ann PETTYGROVE.  He had 10 siblings, however 5 died before 1900. (Those parents are another entire story all their own, which I must write more about, another time.) 

His older brother Joseph (named for his Kuhn grandfather) became a physician like his father, but tragically died in 1898 at their father's home. The second son Louis (named for his father) apparently died before he was 13 years old - another tragedy. Several other siblings died before they were 10 yrs of age. So, Charles ended up the eldest living son.  He became a Civil Engineer, apparently from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY - and I need to write them  to see if they have details of his education records. Research is never done, is it?

According to his wife's Memoirs, p.4:
"...Then Charles Kuhn came back into my life.  [roughly 1909]  I had met him while on a vacation with a schoolmate from St. Vincent on the Hudson. He phoned me. Said, "Hello, Daisy, can I come out to see you?" That was the beginning and the end."   Charles was about 6' tall, with thick blond hair, and blue eyes. He married Marguerite Josephine TERWILLIGER, on 11 June 1910, at Roselle, New Jersey,  where her parents lived; it is described as "a small wedding" in newspapers as well as in her Memoirs. She was 30, he was 34 years old, at the time.

Her Memoirs give details of his jobs while they were married. One of those was to build a dam at Little Hock Hocking on the Ohio River - unfortunately the President and Vice-President of the firm would contradict orders given by each other. Eventually the contract was nil and void.  However, Charles managed to find another position in Watertown NY, where their first child was born, Elizabeth, known as "Betty". Unfortunately she died before one year old from complications of severe milk allergy.  This was a problem for several of their children, and continues with several of the current generation of grandchildren.
Children limited details for children's privacy: 
 - Betty, b. 13 Feb 1911, d. Nov 1911
 - Barbara, b. 13 July 1912; married/divorced/married, 2 children
 - Dorothea "Dot", b. 6 Oct 1914; married/divorced, no children
 - John Anthony, b. 1 Sep 1916, m. 1946, d. 1966; 4 children
 - Louis James "Lou-Jim",  b. 13 Aug 1918, married/divorced/married; 2 children
 - *Mary Marguerite, [direct ancestor], b. 7 Oct 1922, married, 3 children

Charles then took a position with a big engineering firm in NY whose contract was with the BC Electric Company in Vancouver, to put in underground electric systems. World War 1 interrupted this work for a stretch, and he ended up being called down to Memphis TN; he had to register for the draft because of being a US citizen. Eventually he came home, and continued work, mainly centred on the North Shore of Vancouver (West Vancouver).  Later, his work took him to work at Port Alice, Woodfibre, and other places around southern BC and Vancouver Island.

One winter, unfortunately, he slipped off the porch of their home, experiencing a very bad fall, breaking his leg and hip. He was over three months in hospital. Unfortunately that meant it was the end of his work for BC Electric Company. That was the reality in those days, there was no such thing as a medical leave where your job would be kept open for you! As the Depression began around the same time, it was very difficult for the family. For some time, they survived on growing all their own food, his wife's piano/organ playing [usually for the Catholic parish] and other activities, and support from their local Catholic Parish, possibly also support from parents back East. Eventually, he found work for several years, on the planning of the Lions Gate Bridge (First Narrows).

After all the children were married, Charles and Marguerite "Daisy" moved down to Seattle where their older son, John (an engineer), was living and working for Boeing.  They took in boarders from the local army base, as part of how they managed the expenses. At one point, Daisy's mother came for a prolonged visit.

From her Memoirs again, p.24:
"On December 15, '45 Charlie and I were Christmas shopping. We stopped at a place where they served only dinners with candlelight. Excellent food!  We talked and laughed with friends at same table.  At four o'clock in the morning Charlie complained of pain in his chest. Before I could get in touch with the doctor he was gone."

Charles is buried in Calvary Cemetery, in northeast Seattle, Washington. There is no stone on the grave.  He was described by children in the family as being extremely intense and abusive (physically), with a raging temper.  And that his father was "even worse".  Brilliant man, very bright children.  But all seem to have experienced constant fault-finding and raging.  Ugly and soul-destroying emotional abuse.  Certainly that intense abusive rage showed up in my own mother's behaviour as well.  However, I was determined not to continue that abusive behaviour, and eventually took and then taught parenting courses, in order to keep in control of my parenting - not perfect, but definitely much better. The cycle is definitely broken by now - my 6 grandchildren are growing up relatively healthy and happy. Whew.

If you have any information or questions about my grandfather, you can contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or comments below.  Thanks for stopping by to read today.

MORE IRELAND ROOTS: Edward McCABE 1767-1814

Edward McCABE, b. 1767 according to a small personal gravestone stating his age at death on 1 April 1814 as 47 years old.  Too young, isn't it?  I haven't found any record of why he died at that young age.  His age at death is listed as only 42 on the large KUHN obelisk stone with his wife (their daughter married into the KUHN family in Pennsylvania).  The KUHN obelisk states he was born in 1767, and died at 47 years of age; the smaller stone states he was 42 years old at death.  This age-at-death discrepancy is not resolved, as yet.  Both stones may be seen at Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, Adams, Pennsylvania.  

All that I know of his origins is that it is stated he came from County Monaghan, Ireland, and that he was likely born there in approximately 1767.  He married Rebecca HUDSON (b. 18 Mar 1777) in Morgantown, Berks, Pennsylvania. Therefore we can assume that he was in Pennsylvania approximately a year or more before then.  I'm still searching through all the pages of any 1790, 1800, and 1810 censuses for any McCabe families, in case he came with some relatives! Chester county, Lancaster county, Berks county, and Adams counties - all to be searched.

Rebecca, his wife, was born in Morgantown where her parents settled, and was the middle child of 7 children. Her parents were Jonathan HUDSON & Mary MORGAN, and her grandparents were all early Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania, living at times in Caernarvon, Churchtown (Chester county), and Morgantown.

He is found on the 1800 Census, living with his family in Uwchlan Township, Chester county, PA.  No details of his possible occupation are available.  And I have yet to find more records - wouldn't it be wonderful to go visit?  Unfortunately the 1800 Census is transcribed from the earlier original records, as it is listed alphabetically - Sigh!! So no friends or family relationships are available to be researched.

Next, I will be writing to the Uwchlan Township Historical Commission to request several possible histories which might be practical for researching the early settlers. Hopefully, including a sentence or three about my McCabe ancestor. A long shot, but perhaps something will show up there.  Land records so far show no results, but I'm at early stages of searching.

Edward & Rebecca had only 3 children before he died in 1814:
1.  (Sister) Maria Cecelia McCabe b. 1798 in Morgantown, PA.  I believe she died in MD, but I don't have details as yet.
2.  (Dr.) Edmond Hudson McCabe b. 1800 in Morgantown, PA.  He had 5 children (4 boys, 1 girl), no grandchildren! All his children died before the age of 56.
3.  Jane Rebecca McCABE, my ancestor, b. 25 Oct 1803 in Downington, Chester, PA.  Jane married Joseph Jacobus KUHN in 1826, in Conewago, Adams, PA and they had 9 children.  I am descended from the 2nd son, (Dr.) Louis DeBarth KUHN, b. 22 Oct 1829 in East Berlin, Adams, PA.

If any of this information is related to your ancestors, do not hesitate to contact me, either by leaving a comment below, or by emailing me  calewis at telus dot com -- I would love to hear from you!  Or, if you have more information on any of these ancestors, I'd be thrilled to have even a small clue to work with!  Thanks for dropping by.

From IRELAND -- Edward McCABE 1767-1814

Edward McCABE is my 3rd great-grandfather on my mother's lines: my mother's father's father's mother's father.  I have very little information on him, aside from Census details and gravestone information. As with many Irish ancestors, it can be quite challenging to find details in Ireland.  And, as with many ancestors from the late 1700s, it can be challenging to find any details!!

He apparently was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, and died 1 April 1814 in Maryland, buried in Conewago, Adams County, PA, according to the information on the KUHN obelisk at Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery.  Two carvings give different dates for his birth calculating from death date:  the original stone states he was in his 42nd year when he died, i.e., born in 1772; but the obelisk gives his birth year as A.D. 1767, i.e., he was in his 47th year when he died.  This discrepancy has yet to be resolved... one wonders if the carver of the first small stone heard "42nd" instead of "47th" -?

Edward apparently immigrated to Pennsylvania before 1797, although records have not yet been found for him on a ship record, nor in a settlement.

However, he shows up married on 17th July 1797 in Morgantown, to Rebecca HUDSON, who was b. 18 March 1777 in the area known as Morgan's town (Morgantown, Berks, PA).  Rebecca's mother was Mary MORGAN, daughter of Col. Jacob MORGAN, who fought in the Revolutionary War; her father Jonathan/John HUDSON, was an early Welsh settler family in the region. I am able to continue research through the Welsh ancestors-- Morgan, Hudson, Bowen, and Piersol/Pearsall families in PA -- as land records and other historical details allow.

Edward and Rebecca had 3 children:
  - Maria Cecelia McCabe, b. 1798, Morgantown; m. ?McDivitt, nothing else known at present
  - Edmond Hudson McCabe (Dr.), b. 1800, Morgantown; m. Elizabeth Farrish, 5 children
        - moved family to St. Louis MO
  - Jane Rebecca McCABE, b. 25 Oct 1803, Downington [south of Morgantown]

Their daughter, Jane, married Joseph J. [Jacobus] KUHN 5 Nov 1826, in Conewago, Adams, PA.  The family settled in East Berlin, Adams County, PA, and had 9 children.  My ancestor line goes through the 2nd child, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN.

As you see for Edward McCABE, I have only two questionable birthdates, a marriage date, a death date, children and grandchildren's details.  But nothing really about Edward himself.  What was his occupation?  When did he actually arrive?  Did he come with relatives from Ireland? How was he regarded by his neighbours and family?  Hopefully I can continue to find a bit more information on Edward this year!

If you have any information on any of the names in this post, are a relative, do contact me and I will be happy to share what I details I have.